The pilot of a small plane that crashed into a Hudson River inlet Thursday is lucky to be alive.

The Cirrus plane was heading to Westchester County Airport from New Jersey when the 50-year-old pilot, Ilan Reick, experienced leg pains. After making a mayday call Reick activated a parachute, which enabled the plane to make a slow descent into the waters at Bowline Point Park in Haverstraw.

The Haverstraw Fire Department was first to get to the injured pilot with a rescue boat. Reick was taken to Nyack Hospital with minor injuries. Federal air safety officials are still investigating the exact cause of the crash. Crews hope to recover the plane from the waters by Saturday.

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